News

Delta businesses join forces on conservation initiatives

When BC Hydro's Kelvin Louie and Eddie Young speak at the Toast of Tilbury networking event on October 1, they'll find themselves in a room of business people with ambitious conservation goals.

The Tilbury Eco-Industrial Partnership (TEIP) is a group of Delta businesses located in the Tilbury Industrial area working together to maximize benefits for people and the planet while improving their bottom line. Project administrator, DRS Earthwise, estimates Tilbury-area businesses can collectively save $4 million on electricity and $2.4 million on natural gas through improved energy efficiency.

Young's October 1 presentation will focus on Power Smart initiatives that can help Tilbury businesses on the path to that $4 million electricity conservation goal. BC Hydro's Louie will be updating businesses about power outage preparation and power supply issues – specifically brownouts and power surges – specific to the area.

BC Hydro is also working with TEIP on a collective electricity conservation goal for the next year.

The Tilbury Industrial area, home to more than 700 businesses, is located in an area bounded by highways 91 and 97, with Burns Bog on the south side and the Fraser River to the north.

As TEIP coordinator, DRS Earthwise wants to establish a permanent resource centre aimed at helping local business improve their economic and environmental performance. They've won the support of the likes of BC Hydro, the Burns Bog Conservation Society, the Delta Chamber of Commerce and the Corporation of Delta.

Here's a look at some of the conservation achievements of the TEIP group so far:

Canadian Autoparts Toyota Inc., manufacturers of aluminum automotive wheels, has installed an energy-efficient 10 GJ furnace that allows remelting of aluminum chips, which previously had to be shipped to a recycler, then remelted before being shipped back to the company. The result is a 50 per cent reduction in natural gas use. In addition, the company has worked with BC Hydro Power Smart to reduce overall electricity use by 5% while receiving $70,000 in rebates that were reinvested in high bay lighting retrofits.

Nature's Path, manufacturers of organic and GE free cereals, waffles, breads and bars, estimates annual savings of more than $65,000 from initiatives including reduced packaging, including package sizes, the use of 100% recycled paper in cereal box packaging, and a reduction in product transportation.

West Bay Sonship Yachts, manufacturers of luxury fibreglass yachts, estimates annual savings of $82,700 by using 42% less resin through the reuse of excess resin, another $16,000 in savings by using less acetone and another $1,500 in savings through a reduction in acetone hazardous waste.